The firms were responsible for fiscal audits for the city for more than five years. The city alleges the defendants “failed to properly perform audits and other financial services,” that allowed former comptroller Rita Crundwell to embezzle millions of dollars from city accounts undetected.

The defendants are accused of making “material representations to the City of Dixon that there were no irregularities in the City of Dixon accounts.”

The complaint cites various letters and reports from the defendants which repeatedly cite no irregularities or reportable conditions regarding the city’s accounting practices or financial statements.

The complaint names two banks, a third accounting firm and two of its employees as defendants because those respondents could “have information essential to the determination of who should properly be named as defendants in this action.”